Process of producing lateralprovided fittings



April 15, 1941- E. s. CORNELL, JR

2238.0 8 rnocsssor monucfue LATERAL-PROVIDED rrrwms Filed Jan. 24, 1959 2' Shoot s-Sheet 1 Tic]. E.

l0b M icll.

April 1941- E. s. CORNELL JR 38.038

PROCESS or rnooucrne LATERAL7PROVIDED rnrnws Filed Jan. 24,- 139 2 Shouts-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Edward 5. Corns] ,Jr:

MZH z 61 21 H15 ORNEYS Patented Apr. 15, 1941 PROCESS OF PRODUCING LATERAL- PROVIDED FITTINGS Edward S. Cornell, Jr., Larchmont, N. Y.

Application January 24, 1939, Serial No. 252,516

' 3 Claims.

Th invention is directed to the production of Ts and other lateral-provided fittings of cold wrought integral metal.

The invention is of particular utility for the production of Ts and other lateral-provided fittings by the cold working of material of the nature of copper, which is defined as including commercially pure, 1. e., 99% or above, copper or other metal or alloy or like metallic constituencywhich under the condition of heat supplied thereto in advance operation pursuant to the invention gives rise to the formation or cuprous or other oxid or other deleterious condition.

Pursuant to the instant invention, a shell, 1. e., a tubular blank'having a closed end, in the absence of supplied heat, is suitably positioned in a suitable die, the die having apertures conforming to the configuration oi the T or other lateral-provided fitting desired to be produced. in the instance of a T formed from such shell, the shell may be positioned wlthinthe run, i. e. Within aligned apertures oi the die, a suitable pressure-exerting medium such as oil, water, plastic or the like being placed within the shell, and suitable means such as a press having or connected to a suitably shouldered plunger serving as a male die arranged to engage the material of the shell and subject the same to suitable mechanical pressure simultaneously with pressure internally of the shell engendered in the pressure-exerting medium, whereby the material of the shell at and adjacent the juncture of such aligned die apertures with a branch aperture of the die is caused to flow into and along the face of such branch aperture of the die, thereby forming the desired T or other lateral-provided fitting. Such pressure within the pressure-exerting medium may be engendered by the male die contacting such medium or by pipe connection with a suitable source of such medium under pressure.

It is desirable to positively support the material of the shell where unprotected by the faces of the die, against deformation either externally and/or internally. It is also advantageous to employ a stop pin for limiting the extent or flow of the material of the shell into the branch die aperture. Such stop plug, most desirably, is provided with suitable facial configuration at its eiiectivejace, for imparting suitable contour at theterminus oi the flowed metal, for facilitating suitable severing thereat, minimizing waste of metal severed, and

the like.

In certain instances of carrying out the prescut invention, the shouldered plunger may have a relatively elongated nose projecting into, and approximately engaging the inner facesof the shell, thereby serving to support the material of the shell against inward deformation; such e10ngated nose at the stage of initial operation of the plunger may extend to the region of juncture of the branch aperture with the run apertures oi. the die. Also, such elongated nose of the plunger may be suitably apertured to provide for the path of flow of the pressure medium during the stage of movement of the elongated nose through the zone of the juncture of the die apertures. -Such apertured elongated nose of the plunger, preferably, affords access of contact of the pressure medium-with the portion of the material of the shell within the juncture of the branch apertures of the die, to thereby render more effective the flow of the material of the shell throughout the period of operation of the plunger in conjoint mechanical compressions at the open end of the shell upon the material of the shell.

Further features and objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detail description and. the accompanying drawings in which Fig. i. is a central sectional elevation of a T, typical of a lateral-provided fitting producible pursuant to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a central sectional elevation of a shell from which the T shown in Fig. 1 may be produced.

Fig. 3 is-a central section elevation illustrating one method and suitable instr'umentalities therefor for carrying out one form of the invention. Pursuant to such method a cut-away elongated nose is provided for the shouldered plunger; Fig. 4 is a central sectional elevation corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing a subsequent or a final stage of the method; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on line 5-5 of Fig, 4.

Fig. 6 is acentral sectional elevation of the product derived from my method such as pursuant to Figs. 3, 4 and 5. In Fig. 6 the left-hand and upper terminal portions of the material of the product are -shown severed.

Fig. '7 illustrates in central sectional elevation a method of belling and providing abutment stops for one or more openings of the product shown in Fig. 6.

' Fig. 8 is a central sectional elevation illustrating another form of my method for carrying out the invention; the parts here illustrated represent an initial stage of the operation; Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation on line 9-9 of Fig. 8; and Fig, 10 illustrates a subsequent or final stage of the operation initiated in Fig, 8.

Referring to Figs, 2 through 5, of the drawings, an unheated, suitable shell of material of the nature of copper, above defined, such as the shell I0 having an open end Illa and closed end I0b, as illustrated in Fig. 2, is positioned in a suitable die II, the lateral aperture of which is indicated at Na and the aligned, i. e. run apertures are indicated at llb and He. For the formation of a T, such shell II is advantageously positioned in the run" apertures lib, IIc, of the die II, the closed end Iflb of the shell resting on a face of the die aperture IIc. A shouldered plunger is indicated at I2, its shoulder at 1211, and has a relatively long nose, see I2b, which is apertured as indicated at lf'c to the juncture of the die apertures is caused to flow into and within the lateral die aperture Ila, which operation may be continued until such cold-flowed material of the shell assumes a final position as indicated in Fig. 4. It is observed that the projecting nose portion I2b initially and subsequently serves to preclude any inward deformation of the material of the wall, in co-action with extend from its lateral face disposed toward or adjacent the lateral die aperture Ila, to and through its nose portion I2b. It is observed that the projecting nose portion extends, when the plunger I2 is in its initial position, within the region of the juncture of the die apertures.

The diameter of the elongated nose I2b corresponds substantially to the inner dimension of the shell I0.

It isnoted from Figs. 3, 4 and 5, that the initial length of the shell I0 is less than the extent of run" of the aligned die apertures Ilb, He, and accordingly the outer faces of the shell ID are protected against outward deformation by engagement of the same with the faces of the aligned die apertures IIb, No.

As is shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, it is advantageous to have the closed end Illb of the shell Ill fiat.

Pursuant to my method illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, advantage is gained by positioning a stop plu I3 at the terminus of the lateral die aperture I la, which stop plug is preferably provided with a convex effective face I 3a, to thereby impart, as appears more fully hereinafter, a concave formation to the material of the shell cold-flowed into the lateral die aperture I la. For affording release of air from the interior of the lateral die aperture Ila, the peripheries of the head and shank of such stop plug I3 approximate but roughly the diameter of the adjacent faces of the lateral die aperture Ila and its opening Ila.

Upon positioning the shell I0 within the aligned die apertures IIb, Ilc as indicated in Fig. 3, suitable pressure-exerting medium I4, above referred to, is placed within the shell to fill the same, when the long nosed plunger I2 is positioned to dispose its shoulder I2a in engagement with the open end Illa of the shell.

The plunger I2 is then operated by a suitable press or equivalent, whereupon the material of the shell is subjected to mechanical pressure by engagement of the plunger shoulder In with the material of the shell simultaneously with pressure engendered within the pressure-exerting medium M. The generation of such pressure within the pressure-exerting medium may be effected by the engagement of the nose portions I2b, I 2b, with the pressure-exerting medium or in lieu thereof the plunger I2 and the body of its elongated nose I2b may be bored to provide a channel for the flow of the pressure-exerting medium from a suitable source of pressure-exerting supply.

By such pressure applied mechanically to the materialof the shell and concomitantly interiorly of the shell by the pressure-exerting medium, the material of the shell at and adjacent the zone of ture Ila, and preferably,

the pressure engendered within the pressure-exerting medium I4.

Pursuant to the form of my method illustrated in Figs. 8. 9 and 10, the nose I2b of the shouldered plunger I2, at its initial position, as indicated in Fig. 8 may extend beyond the region of the juncture of the die apertures, to effect positive prevention of any deformation inwardly of the shell I0 throughout the area of juncture of the lateral die aperture Ila with the rim" apertures IIb, He. The length of the elongated nose is preferably such that when the plunger I2 has moved to its final position, indicated in Fig. 10, spacing is provided between the end of the plunger nose and the closed end of the shell, to ensure full pressure effect of the pressure medium upon the material of and adjacent the closed end of the shell throughout the range of movement of the plunger. Otherwise, the method indicated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, follows generically that illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and referred to in particulars hereinabove.

The product derived by the above or equivalent procedure, in the instance of a T fitting, has the general T configuration I8 indicated in Fig. 6, namely having an open end at I8a, corresponding to the open end Illa of the shell I0, see Fig. 2, and closed at the respective ends I8b, I; in Fig. 6, the end terminal portions I8b and I80 are indicated as severed, as by means of a suitable saw.

It will be observed that the convex configuration of the stop plug I3, gives rise to a concave formation at the central portion of the terminal portion I8c', which, predicated upon practical experience, insures full attainment of the desired configuration at the terminal portions of the coldfiowed material, imparts rigidity thereat, effective during the severing operation, and other advantages, as appears.

In certain instances of use, as appears from Figs. 8 and 9, it is desirable to provide suitable means effective at the beginning of the stage of conjoint mechanical and internal fluid pressures to positively, i. e., mechanically preclude internal deformation of the material of the shell III throughout the zone of juncture of the die branch apertures, as by elongating the nose I2b of the plunger I2 to initially extend through and beyond the juncture zone, the intercommunieating apertures I2c, I20, being arranged to provide a suitable path of flow for the pressure medium of access to the portion of the material of the shell, to be cold-flowed into the die aperas appears from Figs. 8 and 10, throughout the period of the stroke of the plunger I2.

The resulting general T product, having three open ends, may then be completed to commercial finish as may be desired. Usually, each end is provided with an abutment serving as a stop, indicated at IBd, for gauging the telescopic insertion of the end of a pipe or the like. The production of such stop I8d is advantageously carried out simultaneously with belling the ends of the T, as by means of a. suitable expanding tool indicated at I9, in cooperation with a suitable two-part holding die M. It is understood that, whereas Fig. 7 indicates but one end, i. e. lBc, expanded, either or both of the remaining ends Nib, i8c may be similarly treated.

The resulting T, see 2!, Fig. 1 illustrates a T fitting of conventional internal and external con figurations, and is adapted for connection with the end of a pipe or other fitting or the like, either by sweat-jointing, pursuant to conventional practice, or by threading, in which latter instance the wall thickness of each threaded end is sufficient to bear the necessary threading.

It is a characteristic of the present invention that my method, pursuant torany of the procedures hereinabove set forth, or equivalent, gives rise to an eventual T, the wall thickness of the respective ends, see 21a, lib, Me, is sub stantially uniform In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the T is shown provided with abutments 2ld in each of its connection openings 211a, Zlb, 2lc.

From the above, it appears that is of particular advantage in the formation of Tsand other lateral-provided fittings, from a shell, by utilizing a female die having apertures conforming to the configuration of the T or other lateral-proyided fitting desired to be produced, such shell being positioned within aligned aperturesof the die,

, the closed end of the shell being in suitable abutting relation with a die face, in correlation with a shouldered plunger serving as the male die and provided with a nose having an effective diameter closely approximating the inner diameterof the'shell, a suitable pressure-exerting medium being placed within the shell to fill the same, when the plunger is positioned to effect engagement of 'its shoulder with the open end of the shell, whereby upon application of pressure by such plunger, the material of the shell is'caused to flow into the one or more desired branch apertures by the conjoint pressure mechanically applied by the plunger to the material of the shell and interiorly thereof by the pressure-exerting medium, the nose of the plunger being preferably elongated and apertured to provide path of flow for the pressureexerting medium to facilitate flow of the material of the shell into such one or more branch die apertures.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Iclaim:

1. The method of producing a T or like lateral branch fitting from a closed-ended shell, which includes placing the shell in suitable die means having interconnecting branch apertures contoured to impart the desired configuration to the fitting, said shell being positioned within the run-forming apertures of the die and traversing the die aperture forming a lateral branch of said fitting, placing a flowable material within said shell, interiorly supporting said shell by means including an apertured rigid element disposed in slidable engagement with the interior wall of said shell over the full circumference thereof and up to and including a substantial area of intersection of said lateral branches of said die, engaging the peripheral wall of said shell by plunger means in operative association with said rigid supporting element, moving said plunger means and said rigid supporting element axially of said shell to exert endwise mechanical pressure on the wall thereof thereby to effect supported flow of the material of said shell toward and into said lateral branch die aperture while concomitantly causing flow of said flowable material under pressure through said apertured supporting element to bear against said shell in'the area of said lateral branch.

2.. The method of producing a T or like lateral branch fitting from a closed-ended shell of metal, which includes placing the shell in suitable die means having interconnecting branch apertures contoured to impart the desired configuration to the fitting, said shell being positioned within the run-forming apertures of the die in contact with thewalls-thereof and traversing the die aperture forming a lateral branch of said fi S pp rt ng said shell against lateral movement in said die, placing a quantity of fluid within said shell, interiorly supporting said shell by means including an apertured rigid element disposed in 'slidable engagement with the interior wall of said shell over the full circumference thereof and up to and including a substantial area in the zone of intersection of the lateral branches of the die, confining said fluid within said shell adjacent the closed end thereof by means of said apertured supporting element, engaging the peripheral wall of said shell by plunger means in operative association with said rigid supporting element, moving said plunger means and said rigid supporting element axially of said shell to exert endwise mechanical pressure on the wall thereof, thereby to effect supported flow of the material and of said shell toward and'into said lateral branch die aperture while concomitantly causing flow of said fluid under pressure through said apertured supporting element to bear against said shell in the area of said lateral branch. r

3. The method of producing a T or like latera1 branch fitting from a closed-ended shell of metal, which includes placing the shell in suitable die meansv having interconnecting branch apertures contoured to impart the desired configuration to the fitting, said shell being positioned within the run-forming apertures of'the die in contact with the walls thereof and traversing the die aperture forming a lateral branch or said fitting, abutting the closed end of said shell against a wall of said die to preclude lateral-displacement of said shell within said die, placing a quantity of fluid within said shell, interiorly supporting said shell by means including an apertured rigid element disposed in slidable engagement with the interior wall of saidshell over the full circumference thereof and up to and including a substantial area in the zone of intersection of the lateral branches of the die, confining said fluid within said shell adjacent the closed end thereof by means of said apertured supporting element. operating upon the'encl of said shell by plunger means contacting the peripheral wall of said shell at the open end thereof, said plunger means being in operative association with said rigid supporting element, moving said plunger means and said rigid supporting element axially of said shell to exert endwise mechanical pres.-

sure on the wall thereoLthereby to effect supported flow of the material of said shell toward and into said lateral branch die aperture while concomitantly causing flow of said fluid under pressure through said apertured supporting element to bear against said shell in the area of said lateral branch. v

EDWARD S. CORNELL, JR. 

